For me, bull stuff goes in steel ammo cans, labeled, "better" ammo like 357, 44 mag and precision rifle stuff go in the flip top plastic boxes. Usually I'd just grab a couple hand fulls out of the cans for rifle pistol practice etc, but I like the idea of utilizing the mini cans. Ill have to try one.
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Packing/boxing your ammo
- Thread starter Venti30
- Start date
FrankenMauser
New member
I don't like flip-top plastic boxes, and absolutely despise the slide-top plastic boxes.
I own some of each, and I'll continue using them until they die.
But I won't buy any more, and I turn them down when people offer them to me for free.
I've had too many crack, break, or otherwise go to crap.
Bags were used frequently in my early years reloading, but I got tired of just having a "pile" of ammo in my range bag or ammo can, and the complications that come with trying to stack bags of ammo on shelves.
Now...
Most of my ammo is stored and transported in recycled or scrounged factory boxes, or National Metallic (MidwayUSA CB-series) boxes -- styrofoam tray in a plain white cardboard box.
The only real exceptions are 9mm and .223 (when I have enough loaded). The majority of that ammo gets stored in bulk in double-corrugated cardboard boxes (former cast bullet shipping boxes) until it's time to refill the 20-round and 50-round factory-style boxes.
I don't care. I just need ammo that works.
My sweat is not 99% acetic acid.
I have ammo from the '80s that I loaded. It has fingerprints and staining from lube residue. It'll be fine for another 20 years -- and even that limit is just my estimate of when the powder is likely to show signs of degradation.
I own some of each, and I'll continue using them until they die.
But I won't buy any more, and I turn them down when people offer them to me for free.
I've had too many crack, break, or otherwise go to crap.
Bags were used frequently in my early years reloading, but I got tired of just having a "pile" of ammo in my range bag or ammo can, and the complications that come with trying to stack bags of ammo on shelves.
Now...
Most of my ammo is stored and transported in recycled or scrounged factory boxes, or National Metallic (MidwayUSA CB-series) boxes -- styrofoam tray in a plain white cardboard box.
The only real exceptions are 9mm and .223 (when I have enough loaded). The majority of that ammo gets stored in bulk in double-corrugated cardboard boxes (former cast bullet shipping boxes) until it's time to refill the 20-round and 50-round factory-style boxes.
Minor staining is only a problem for people that want to win beauty contests with their ammo.For storage, the best advise I can give is NEVER touch the brass/ammo with bare fingers once it's cleaned.
Skin oil is corrosive and will corrode the bullets/brass in a day or two.
I don't care. I just need ammo that works.
My sweat is not 99% acetic acid.
I have ammo from the '80s that I loaded. It has fingerprints and staining from lube residue. It'll be fine for another 20 years -- and even that limit is just my estimate of when the powder is likely to show signs of degradation.
My big calibers (rifle & handgun) go into dedicated ammo boxes which are mostly MTM 20, 50, & 100 quantities.
The smaller caliber handguns go into boxes that I have scrounged up and can hold 100 or 200 with padding.
I don't have recipes, so I label the load data and either write it on the box or use stick on labels.
The smaller caliber handguns go into boxes that I have scrounged up and can hold 100 or 200 with padding.
I don't have recipes, so I label the load data and either write it on the box or use stick on labels.
Gary Wells
New member
I reload & shoot only .45 auto, & generally the same target load in all 5 guns, so I use any factory boxes & plastic separators that come in the original factory boxes/containers.
Sunday Shooter
New member
I normally fill a 50 cal ammo can with each caliber. For trips to the range I fill empty Hodgdon 1lb cans with a label on the lid. Replenish the powder can when I get home so I'm ready for the next outing.
I use the MTM boxes. Lots n lots of them. I bought a few here and a few there. Multiply that by many years, and . . .
Lead ammo almost always gets put in 100 round boxes. Same with 44 Mag and Special, because I only have a few recipes and tend to load them in volume.
They do take more space than ammo cans; but I find it more organized.
Lead ammo almost always gets put in 100 round boxes. Same with 44 Mag and Special, because I only have a few recipes and tend to load them in volume.
They do take more space than ammo cans; but I find it more organized.
I color code with my MTM boxes.
Blue is 38 Special.
Red is 9mm.
Green is 357 Magnum.
Smoke is 10mm.
Blue is 45 ACP (clearly larger than 38 Special)
Green is 44 Mag/Spl (clearly larger than 357).
Side note: 38 DEWC wadcutters fit perfectly in the MTM boxes made for 9mm - like a glove.
Blue is 38 Special.
Red is 9mm.
Green is 357 Magnum.
Smoke is 10mm.
Blue is 45 ACP (clearly larger than 38 Special)
Green is 44 Mag/Spl (clearly larger than 357).
Side note: 38 DEWC wadcutters fit perfectly in the MTM boxes made for 9mm - like a glove.
I currently reuse the ammo trays from purchased ammo - I prefer blazer trays when I can salvage them but I'll use anything I can find at the range.
One thing I REFUSE to do on principle is reuse the production cardboard box.
I never want anyone to mistake a box of reloads for factory.
So I use packaging tape & cut a cardboard sleeve out of any handy thin scrap cardboard - usually cereal boxes - labels in - and write on the top face and side the caliber and bullet style. I had a stamp made with a form / line for all the shell stats, caliber, powder grain and make, bullet grain and make and brass head stamp but don't use it any more - a sharpie is easier. Then these trays go into a .50 ammo can with a couple silicon desiccant packets and that goes in inside storage in a locked cabinet.
In future I hope to start 3-d printing my own ammo trays what will be uniform and perfectly fitted for .50 ammo cans. Most production factory ammo trays don't nest right in standard ammo cans which annoys me to no end.
One thing I REFUSE to do on principle is reuse the production cardboard box.
I never want anyone to mistake a box of reloads for factory.
So I use packaging tape & cut a cardboard sleeve out of any handy thin scrap cardboard - usually cereal boxes - labels in - and write on the top face and side the caliber and bullet style. I had a stamp made with a form / line for all the shell stats, caliber, powder grain and make, bullet grain and make and brass head stamp but don't use it any more - a sharpie is easier. Then these trays go into a .50 ammo can with a couple silicon desiccant packets and that goes in inside storage in a locked cabinet.
In future I hope to start 3-d printing my own ammo trays what will be uniform and perfectly fitted for .50 ammo cans. Most production factory ammo trays don't nest right in standard ammo cans which annoys me to no end.
That sounds like a good idea. I’ve been using them to hold bullets from my bulk package. I could repurpose them to carry loaded ammo. The Berry’s boxes help me keep different loads straight, but can be difficult pulling rounds out at the range.Bulk boxing I just found that I can use the black empty Berry's Bullets 250 count plastic bullet box for the 45acp I just started loading. Standing up I can get 66 per layer with a cardboard cutout between layers. Works our pretty nice.
That's a great idea. I wish I had thought of that when I still had my printer. It got to the point where it was just sitting there doing nothing so I sold it.In future I hope to start 3-d printing my own ammo trays what will be uniform and perfectly fitted for .50 ammo cans. Most production factory ammo trays don't nest right in standard ammo cans which annoys me to no end.